1 Upgrade That Feels Like Punishment (And Why I Chase It)
By Suchitra Sairam
Decades ago, I made one of the most important upgrades for my life, my work, and my art. I trained myself to seek out criticism.
I didn’t start here.
In the early years of my dance journey, getting a string of corrections from a teacher felt discouraging. I thought, “If I were good, they wouldn’t correct me so much.”
It stung even more when I saw other dancers in class not getting “picked on.”
I learned to see it differently thanks to one sentence directed at me from a highly respected teacher. “I’m correcting your small details because you are capable of more.”
Suddenly, stinging feedback transformed into words of honey.
I realized:
No feedback isn’t a compliment or validation. It’s often a sign of complacency. Or worse, disinterest.
Receiving feedback is a gift. It means someone sees your potential and is willing to invest their time, energy, and expertise to help you grow
From that moment, being fearless meant inviting feedback and corrections.
It’s about
- Always being teachable, coachable, and confident in your ability to meet the challenge
- Making it worth a mentor’s effort to guide you, because they can see you’ll do the work
Every time a mentor or teacher offers constructive criticism, they’re really saying, “Here’s what’s possible for you. I’ll show you the door, and invite you to walk through it.”
This shift has grounded me in slow-cooked growth, something deeply valuable in the speedy world we live in today.
What does it do for me?
- Slows me down
- Connects me to my craft
- Turns learning an act of transformation
If we want to define who we are – as humans, professionals, artists, anything- seeking out criticism isn’t a threat to our identity.
It serves as the vehicle carrying us toward our fullest vision.
“Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.”
— Swahili Proverb
